What are the differences between phosphorus, phosphoric acid and phosphates?

Phosphorus is an element that occurs in nature and is widely distributed in combination with other minerals. In your high school chemistry class, it was presented to you as one of the elements on the Periodic Table. Phosphates are natural compounds – salts containing phosphorus and other minerals. The main minerals in bones and teeth are types of phosphates with the scientific names of hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate. Phosphoric acid is produced from phosphates by reacting with sulphuric acid.

Are phosphates natural?

Phosphate rock is mined from the earth. The rock is crushed and purified to form phosphoric acid, which may be reacted with caustic soda of lime to produce purified phosphate salts.

How are phosphates formed?

Centuries ago, phosphorus was obtained from animal bones and urine. Over time, there was an insufficient supply of bone to meet the demand for purified phosphorus. Today, phosphate rock is mined to obtain phosphorus. The natural phosphate rock includes clay and other minerals, so it must be purified to isolate phosphorus in the form of phosphoric acid. The acid is reacted with alkaline salts to produce purified phosphates.

Are phosphates essential to life?

Yes. Phosphates are nutrients and are essential to human, animal and plant life. They have critical functions in key biochemical processes such as metabolism. Our bodies are made of many phosphorus-containing compounds that play a major role in:

• Genetic material - the DNA and RNA that makes each of us unique
• Cellular membranes
• Teeth and bones
• Human energy systems
• Cell signaling systems, which regulates diverse functions from the acid-base balance in the body to hormonal responses.

Plants also need phosphorus, and phosphorus-containing compounds are vital to photosynthesis.

Do I need phosphorous in my diet to be healthy?

You do. Phosphorus is an essential mineral in all living things, and is critical to each cell's ability to store and convert energy. Like most nutrients, some phosphorus is continually lost during normal biological processes and must be replenished. In combination with calcium, an ongoing phosphorus supply (in the form of phosphates) is essential to maintaining healthy bones and teeth and proper blood chemistry. The Daily Reference Intakes (link to Nutritional Aspects PDF) for phosphorus are included in the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report, Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride.

Why are phosphates in my baking mix?

Phosphate salts act as leavening agents that "fluff up" foods we like to eat, such as cakes, biscuits, breads and pancakes. Unlike yeast recipes, such as sourdough, phosphates have no taste and can be used for a wide variety of baking products, such as prepared doughs, pizzas and cake mixes. Phosphates react with sodium bicarbonate to release carbon dioxide, providing the leavening for a wide array of products we see on our store shelves today.

Why are phosphates in toothpaste?

Many toothpaste formulations include calcium and sodium phosphates for their mild abrasiveness and effective whitening properties. Other phosphates also are used as fluoride carriers to improve tooth health. These ingredients help remove food particles that otherwise could contribute to tooth decay.

Why should I have phosphorus with calcium supplements?

Mammalian bones and tooth enamel are mostly made of calcium phosphate. For this reason, most multi-vitamin supplements contain phosphorus in addition to calcium to supply the necessary minerals for bone building in our bodies. Calcium phosphates also have excellent "excipient," or tablet-forming, properties. In prescription pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter remedies, calcium phosphates help bind the ingredients into tablet form.

Why do sandwich ingredients contain phosphates?

Phosphates provide benefits to certain sandwich ingredients:

• Lunchmeat, ham, or other processed meat retain moisture and tenderness better during storage thanks to sodium phosphate.
• Cheese keeps its shape and melting properties because of sodium phosphates and enhanced nutritional value as a calcium phosphate fortified product.
• Canned tuna meat can develop a glassy or sandy appearance caused by the mineral struvite. Adding a small amount of sodium phosphate retards the formation of this mineral in tuna.
• Calcium phosphate in bread retards a strain of bacteria that would otherwise make bread appear as if it contained rope.

Why are phosphates and phosphoric acid in beverages?

Remember the fizzy drink tablets that were a popular fad in the 1970s? One of the fizz-causing ingredients was calcium phosphate. Many of today's favorite beverages rely on phosphorus-containing ingredients.

• Potassium phosphates in non-dairy creamers help reduce acidity (leading to acrid taste) in coffee.
• In colas, phosphoric acid - usually no more than 0.3% of the cola helps provide that cola "tang" many of us enjoy.
• Energy drinks usually incorporate phosphates as part of their "quick hydration" performance package.

Can you ingest too much phosphorus?